What painting is this?

Response from a perplexity.ai image query:

This painting is “Destruction” by Thomas Cole, part of his series The Course of Empire (1833–1836). It depicts the violent downfall of a great civilization, with scenes of chaos, warfare, and destruction.

The series portrays the cyclical rise and fall of empires, and “Destruction” is the fourth painting in the sequence. The dramatic imagery includes burning buildings, a shattered bridge, and a colossal statue collapsing amidst the turmoil.

This work reflects Cole’s commentary on the fragility of human achievement and the inevitability of decline. It is housed at the New-York Historical Society.